Albeet a



(No Model.)

A. A. PR MAN. RETURN L.

No. 589,500. .Patented Sept, 7, 1897.

ALBERT A. FREEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO JOHN H. SCOTT, OF SAME PLACE.

RETURN-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,500, datedSeptember '7, 1897. Application filed October 15, 1896. Serial No.609,023. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Return-Balls, of which the following; is adescription, reference being hadto the annexed drawings, making parthereof.

My invention relates to the toy called a return-ball, its general formbeing that which is well known 'to the tradeto wit, a sphere attached toan elastic band or cord.

The object of my improvements is to produce a toy of the class referredto which while being thrown to and fro will in its transit give forthmusical or resonant sounds.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device; Fig. 2, adetached perspective view of a cylinder designed to be set in and topass through the middle interior of the ball and provided with a lowerflange or check; Fig. 3, a vertical cross-sectional view of my device;Fig. 4, a detached perspective view of the plunger and its rod, showingalso a spherical bell and ball in the same form as the ordinarysleigh-bell.

l is the body of the ball, which may be of rubber, wood, papier-mach, orother suitable material; 2, a middle cylindrical opening through theball; 3, a metallic or other cylinder adapted to set through saidopening, provided beneath with a flange or check 4 to hold the cylinderfrom passing too far into or through opening 2.

5 5 5 are flexible ears projecting upward from the upper rim of cylinder3; 6, a cap the outer rim of which rests upon the ball 1 and it ispierced with openings 7 7 and slots 8 8. These slots are adapted toreceive the flexible ears 5 5, which latter project through them and arebent over, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) thus holding the cylinder 3 up in placeand securing the cap firmly over the end of said cylinder.

The lower end 10 'of cylinder 3 is pierced with an opening 9, and falsebottom or.

disk llrabove the true bottom 10 of the cylinder is pierced with opening12. There is left between the two bottoms a space 13, thus forming awhistle. Air forced through openings 9-and 12 will produce a shrillsound.

14 is a plunger or cage provided with a full bottom 15, adapted by itsdiameter to nearly fill the circular space in the cylinder 3, whereby assaid plunger rises and falls air will be drawn or expelled through thewhistle in the center of cap 6, terminates in a ring 18, to

which is attached the elastic band 20.

21 is a weak spiral spring setting around rod 17 and above it setsagainst cap 6 and beneath rests upon yoke 16.

19 is a bell of the ordinary sleigh-bell form in construction providedwith the interior rolling ball or knocker. This bell may be set rigidlyin cage 14 or may be allowed to roll around freely therein, as shown. Byholding the rear end'of the elastic and throwing the ball the weight ofthe latter will draw rod 17 and its plunger or cage 14 up, compressspring 21, and draw air through the whistle in the lower end of cylinder3. As the ball returns this action will be reversed. In the meantime thesleigh-bell will be fulfilling the objects of its creation by makingitself heard in the world. The sphere 1 is simply a block, and thisblock may be made of any form suitable to the taste of the manufactureror the demands of the trade. The sides of the interior space 2 simplyserve as a guide to the plunger in its reciprocation. My device forms amusical return-ball. The bottom 10 forms a cap to the lower opening ofthe block.

'WhatI claim as new is- A'musicalreturn-block consisting of thecombination of block l provided with an interior space 2; guide 3; cap6; plunger 14; rod 17 attached thereto and piercing said cap, the outerend of said rod being adapted to be attached to a cord; bell 19 set insaid plunger; double bottom or whistle 10, 11, pierced with openings 9,12; spring 21 arranged between said plungerand one of the caps,substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT A. FREEMAN.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE E. BUoKLnY, Trmo. MUNGEN.

